Fuse-block.



No. 655,243. Patented Aug. 7, |900.

L. A. KEITH.

FUSE BLOCK.

(Application filed Sept. 11, 1899.)

(llo Modal.)

UNH-E STATESY ATENT OFFICE.

LORIN A. KEITHOF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

Fuse-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters llatentV No. 655,243, dated August *7, 1900. Appncaion ned septemberv 11,1399. serial No. 730,143. 11., man.)

T0 all whom t may concern.;

Be it known that I, LORIN A. KEITH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State 'of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Fuse-Block, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuse-blocks, and

' more particularly to the binding-plates thereof and means for attaching the fuse-wire to the binding-plates; and it has for its object to provide a simple'and efficient construction through the medium of whichthe clampingwasher will be given a longitudinal movement with respect to the clamping-screw to clamp the end of the fuse-wire against the end of the binding-plate, the washer being held against rotary motion, and thus preventing the cutting of the fuse-wire, as is so often done when the clamping-surfaces have a sliding movement with respect to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap construction of the parts of the device without impairing their efficiency. i i

This invention is applicable to all uses of the fuse-block, whether employed in connection with junction-boxes, rheostats, or any other specic apparatus.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fuse-block having binding-plates fixed thereto Vand constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 1 on a-larger scale. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 2, partly in elevation. Fig. 4' isa longitudinal section of a portion of a block, showing a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, represents a block of porcelain, vulcanite, or other` suitable insulating material upon which are mounted the binding-plates constructed and equipped in accordance with this invention. These binding-plates 6 are arranged one at each end and upon the upper surface of. theblock and separated by an interspace. Each plate has a longitudinal slot 7 therein, the.

material from the slot being struck up at right angles to the upper face of the plate to form an ear 8. Between the ear 8 and the inner end of the plate 6 is formed a perforation 9,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of opening 4tlvirough the plate and into an annularrecess 10 in the upper surface of the block 5 and concentric with the perforation.

A machine-screw 11 of any suitable material has a preferably-cylindrical head 12 disposed in the recess 10 and adapted for rotation therein, this screw having a stem 13, comprising a cylindrical portion lying in the perforation 9 and a threaded outer portion which projects above the upper surface of the plate 6, the upper end of the stem having a diametrical slot 14. Disposed upon the stem of the screw is a clamping-washer in the form of a nut 15, the threads of which engage the threads of the stem, and which nut is adapted to travel longitudinally of the screw when the latter is rotated. In order to prevent rotary movement of the nut with the screw, a radial slot 16 is formed in the nut and which slot is of a size to snugly receive the ear 8, and thus to hold the nut against rotation while permitting it to have sliding movement with respect thereto. c Adjacent the outer end of the plate 6 is formed a threaded perforation 17, adapted to receive a screw 18, having a frusto-conical head 19. At the sides of the plates 6 and adjacent the threaded perforation 17 are formed upwardly-directed flanges 19a, intermediate which and upon the upper face of the plate is disposed a channel-block 20, comprising parallel members 21 and 22, having a connecting-web 23, the screw 18 being passed through a slot 24, formed longitudinally of this web. In practice the termiualsoftheconductors with which theblockA is connected'areinserted between the heads of the screws 1S and a member2l or 22 of the block 20, after which the screw is turned down through the plate G and clamps the terminal between the engaging surfaces, the channel-block having a sliding movement, so that it may automatically adjust itself and secure the best gripping action, a recess 25 being formed in the block 5 to receive the lower end of the screw. The nuts 15 are then raised by manipulation of the screws 11 and the ends of the fuse-wire are passed beneath the fnuts and between them and the plates 6, either outside of the ears 8, as shown, or between them and the screws. By then rotating the screws the nuts are fed downwardly upon the fuse-wire and IOO act to clamp it against the binding-plate, thus to hold i-t tirmly in position and without cutting it. The plate 6 may be secured to the block 5 in any desired manner, and I have shown them attached by means of screws 26.V

Referring to Fig. e of the drawings, thereis shown a modification comprising a kbindingplate 30, fixed upon an insulating base or block 3l, the terminal of the conducting-wire being held between the clamping-screws 32 and the upper surface of the plate 30, a flange 33 being formed vat one sideof the plate to prevent lateral'displacement of the wire or conductor. In this construction a screw 35V and nut 36 are employed, the screw being passed through the plate and having its head disposed in a recess of the block .in the same manner as above described. Instead of forming an ear upon the plate, however, a perfo'- ration 37 is formed therein in communication with a recess 38 in the block 3l. Anear 39 is formed upon the nut 36 and extends outwardly therefrom and then downwardly at rightanglesthereto and'enters this perforation and recess, the Iit of the ear in the perforation beingsuiiiciently snugto prevent rotation of the nutrwith the screw and to permit movement of the nut longitudinally of the screw.

The screw in each instance may have either a right or a left hand thread as desired; but it is preferred that they have left-hand threads in crder'thatthe nut will be moved into its clamping position when the screw is turned plate fixed to the base, a screw rotatablymounted in the plate, a nut engaging the screw and adapted for movement upon the screw toward and away from the plate, and means for preventing rotation of the nut.

2. `The combination with a plate having a Ascrew rotatably mounted therein, of a nut engaging the screw and adapted for movement thereon toward and away from the plate, and

means for preventing rotation of the nut.

3. y The combination with a plate, of a screw passed therethrough and having a head lying at one side of the plate, a nut engaging the screw upon theopposite side of theplate from thehead,and means for preventing rota-tion of the nut, said nut being movable upon the screw toward and away from the plate.

l 4. In a fuse-block, the combination with a member having a screw mounted therein, of

Va second member engaging the screw and adapted for movement thereon toward and away from the opposing member, an opening in one ofthe members, and an ear upon the other member, entering the opening and movable therein and adapted toprevent rotation of the second memberupon the screw. p

5. A fuse-block comprising a binding-plate having a screw rotatably mounted therein, an ear carried by the plate, and a nut engaging the screw and adapted for movement thereon toward and away from the plate, said nut having a recess in which the ear is adapted to lie to preventvrotation of the nut.

6. The-combination with a fuse-block having a recess therein, of a binding-plate Xed to the block, a screw passed through the plate. and having a head lying in the recess of the block, a nut engaging thescrew and adapted for movement thereon toward and away from the plate, an ear carried by the plate and a recess in thenut in which the ear is disposed to prevent rotation of the nut.

7. The combination with a binding-plate adapted for attachment of a fuse-wire thereto,

of a screw engaged with the plate and having a fixed frusto-conical head, and a channelf block having a slot therein through which the `:screw is passed, said block being movable transversely of the screw and bein g-disposed I to receive the head of the screwin its chan- `.`nel,.whereby the screw may clamp the wire between its head and the channel-block with a grinding action.

8. A wire-clamp comprisinga screw having aiixed head the under side4 of which is tapered, and a channel-block having an opening thereinthrough which the screwis passed,

f said block being slidable transversely of the -screwand arranged to receive the tapered portion of the head of the screw in its channel toexert a gripping actionbetween the tapered portion of the screw and the channely block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto axed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAs. E. B ENEmcT, T. Y. MCCRAY.

IIO 

